• #135 What’s Important To Anne Marie Allen – Resilience, Reinvention & Courageous Career Growth
    Mar 26 2026

    What does it take to rebuild your life with honesty… and then help others do the same?

    In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Anne Marie Allen shares her journey of resilience and self-discovery after leaving Opus Dei and navigating the emotional aftermath of that chapter.

    Through writing, reflection, and courageous honesty, she transformed pain into purpose and built a coaching practice dedicated to empowering others.

    We explore forgiveness, identity, generational perspectives, interview preparation, confidence, anxiety management, and the evolving challenges facing young graduates today.

    Anne Marie also offers practical insight into how to prepare for interviews, manage nerves, understand your value, and step forward with authenticity.

    This episode is about more than career success, it’s about living truthfully, aligning with your values, and having the courage to pursue what truly matters.

    About Anne Marie

    Anne Marie Allen is the founder of AMA Coaching Solutions, bringing over 30 years of leadership, training, and executive management experience.

    She specializes in:

    • Interview Coaching
    • Executive & Leadership Coaching
    • Life Coaching

    With academic qualifications in Public Policy, Public Health, and Executive Coaching, alongside extensive interview board experience, Anne Marie combines strategic insight with deep empathy.

    Her coaching empowers individuals to recognize their strengths, build confidence, manage anxiety, and navigate career and life transitions with clarity.

    Her work is rooted in resilience, honesty, and the belief that understanding your true self is the foundation for lasting success.

    In This Episode, We Explore:
    • Why resilience and honesty are essential for personal growth
    • Healing through writing and self-reflection
    • Forgiveness and rebuilding after trauma
    • The transition from lived experience to coaching others
    • How generational shifts are shaping career expectations
    • The importance of values in career decision-making
    • Preparing for interviews with authenticity and confidence
    • Managing anxiety and nervousness under pressure
    • Understanding job descriptions and showcasing unique value
    • Having the courage to pursue what truly matters

    In Anne Marie Words

    “It’s just that they’re just people.”
    “It’s all about marks.”
    “You have to get them to recognise it.”

    Connect with Anne Marie

    👉 LinkedIn
    👉 Website
    👉 Instagram

    Stay Connected with James Dean


    👉 LinkedIn
    👉 Instagram

    🎯 Interested in coaching?


    If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.


    Book a free Clarity Call here:
    https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • #134 What’s Important To Marcia Earhart – Healing Through Grief, Faith & Intentional Living
    Mar 19 2026

    What does it mean to keep living… after unimaginable loss?

    In this deeply moving conversation, we explore love, grief, faith, trauma, and the long road to healing.

    After the tragic loss of two sons, Marcia Earhart’s journey through devastation became a pathway to hope, not just for herself, but for countless others navigating trauma and heartbreak.

    Marcia shares how grief reshaped her understanding of love, boundaries, faith, and intentionality. She speaks openly about the rawness of loss, the role of community, and the power of a personal relationship with God in rebuilding a shattered heart.

    This episode is a powerful reminder that you are not defined by your trauma and that healing, while not linear, is always possible.

    About Marcia

    Marcia Earhart is a Certified Life, Grief, Trauma, Brain, and Mental Health Responder Coach, a trained Mediator, and a Heartsync Minister.

    With over 30 years of coaching and counseling experience, she is also the author of Gripping Grace in the Garden of Grief: A Place for the Heart (2025).

    After losing her two sons, Sterling (21) and Marc (26), Marcia and her husband founded The Sterling Rose Sanctuary, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing hope and healing to those suffering from trauma and grief.

    Her work is rooted not only in professional training but in lived experience. Through faith, intentional healing, and community, she now helps others move from profound pain toward purposeful hope.

    In This Episode, We Explore:
    • Why love is essential to healing
    • The difference between religion and relationship in faith
    • How grief reshapes identity and purpose
    • Why trauma is relative and should never be minimized
    • The importance of boundaries in healthy relationships
    • Generational shifts and family estrangement
    • The role of intentionality in emotional healing
    • How community supports long-term recovery
    • Why open dialogue is necessary for growth
    • Reclaiming your true self beyond trauma

    In Marcia's Words

    “You are not defined by your trauma.”
    “Healing is a journey, not a destination.”
    “Function should operate from your true self.”

    Connect with Marcia

    👉 Website
    👉 Instagram

    Stay Connected with James Dean


    👉 LinkedIn
    👉 Instagram

    🎯 Interested in coaching?


    If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.


    Book a free Clarity Call here:
    https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • #133 What’s Important To Dr. Travis Parry – Purpose, Marriage & Balanced Growth
    Mar 12 2026

    What if growing your business didn’t have to cost you your health… or your marriage?

    In this episode, Dr. Travis Parry shares how the sudden loss of his father became a catalyst for deep self-discovery, purpose, and a complete re-evaluation of success. Instead of chasing growth at any cost, he developed what he now calls the Balanced Growth Method, a framework helping entrepreneurs 10X their business while working less and strengthening their relationships at home.

    We explore how values shape decisions, why goal-setting should focus on who you are becoming, and how money conversations can either divide or deepen a marriage. Travis challenges the idea that hustle equals success and instead advocates for alignment.

    Aligning your values with your time, your business with your health, and your ambitions with your spouse.

    This is a powerful conversation about masculinity, legacy, faith, financial partnership, and building a life that feels as good at home as it looks on paper.

    In This Episode, We Explore:
    • How personal loss can redefine purpose
    • Why values must guide time and decision-making
    • The danger of scaling a business at the expense of health or marriage
    • Aligning financial goals as a couple
    • Moving from achievement-driven goals to identity-driven growth
    • Why affirmations only work when paired with action
    • Building a family legacy intentionally

    About Dr. Travis Parry

    Dr. Travis Parry is the creator of the Balanced Growth Method, helping service-based entrepreneurs grow their businesses while improving their health and relationships.

    He works with married business owners who want to scale sustainably, without sacrificing their marriage, family life, or wellbeing.

    Through value alignment, productivity systems, and relationship-centred financial planning, Travis helps entrepreneurs grow richer with their spouse, not in spite of them.

    Connect with Dr. Travis Parry

    👉 LinkedIn
    👉 Website
    👉 Instagram

    Stay connected with James Dean

    👉 LinkedIn

    👉 Instagram

    👉 Website

    🎯 Interested in coaching?


    If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.


    Book a free Clarity Call here:
    https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

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    59 mins
  • #132 What’s Important To Angela Cox – Self-Belief, Fulfilment & Stepping Into Your Next Level
    Mar 5 2026

    Ambitious. Capable. Hard-working.
    And yet… still feeling unfulfilled or plateaued.

    In this powerful conversation, Angela Cox shares why self-belief is the foundation of everything, from career progression to leadership confidence and life fulfilment.

    We explore the difference between surface-level success and deep alignment, how identity shapes results, and why asking better questions unlocks better outcomes.

    Angela explains how strengthening confidence, executive presence, and internal certainty allows professionals, particularly ambitious women, to step into senior leadership, scale businesses, and create sustainable growth without burnout.

    This episode dives into abundance vs. scarcity mindset, the role of coaching in accelerating transformation, and why joy and fulfilment aren’t luxuries, they’re signals that you’re building the right life.

    If you’ve ever felt capable of more but unsure how to step into it, this conversation is for you.

    In This Episode, We Explore:
    • Why self-belief is the cornerstone of identity and leadership
    • Moving beyond “almost there” success into real fulfilment
    • The power of coaching to unlock clarity and momentum
    • Asking better questions to create breakthroughs
    • Building executive presence and visibility
    • Abundance mindset vs. scarcity thinking
    • Why taking action reduces anxiety and builds confidence
    • Creating success that feels aligned, not performative

    About Angela Cox

    Angela Cox is a Transformational Career, Life and Leadership Coach supporting ambitious professionals ready to step into their next level of impact.

    She blends identity work, elevated confidence, strategic leadership and high-performance coaching to help her clients:

    • Step into senior leadership roles
    • Scale businesses sustainably
    • Increase visibility and authority
    • Achieve measurable career growth

    Her work focuses on helping leaders move beyond hesitation and burnout, building deep self-belief, executive presence and aligned success.

    Key Takeaways
    • Self-belief determines the ceiling of your success.
    • You are where you're meant to be, but you don’t have to stay there.
    • Fulfilment and joy are indicators of alignment.
    • There is enough opportunity for everyone.
    • Questions create clarity.
    • Action builds confidence faster than overthinking ever will.

    Memorable Quotes – In Angela's Words

    “Believe is the keyword.”
    “You are where you're meant to be.”
    “There is enough for everybody.”

    Connect with Angela Cox

    👉 LinkedIn

    Stay Connected with James Dean

    👉 Website
    👉 LinkedIn
    👉 Instagram

    🎯 Interested in coaching?
    If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.


    Book a free Clarity Call here:
    https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • #131 What’s Important To Alfredo Borodowski – From Fixing to Flourishing in Times of Disruption
    Feb 26 2026

    In this powerful and deeply reflective conversation, I am joined by Alfredo Borodowski to explore what it truly means to flourish as a leader, as a team, and as a human being, especially in times of disruption.

    Alfredo introduces the principles of positive psychology and explains why so many people remain unaware of their strengths, despite the evidence showing that knowing and using them dramatically increases wellbeing and performance.

    Together, we explore the difference between a culture of fixing and a culture of nourishing, and why purpose, health, and psychological safety are foundational for sustainable success.

    Alfredo shares his own journey through adversity, including mental health challenges and loss, and how those experiences shaped his empathy, authenticity, and approach to leadership.

    This episode is an invitation to move beyond survival mode, reconnect with what’s strongest within you, and lead with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

    💡 Key Takeaways
    • Most people don’t know their strengths and that limits flourishing
    • Strengths awareness increases wellbeing and engagement
    • We often try to fix instead of nourish people and cultures
    • Flourishing comes from aligning strengths, purpose, and action
    • Health is the foundation for everything else
    • Psychological safety is essential for high-performing teams
    • AI must support, not replace, the human element
    • Fulfilment comes from giving your best in service to others

    ⏱️ Chapters

    00:00 Positive Psychology & Strengths
    02:59 Why Knowing Your Strengths Matters
    08:49 Leadership Through a Strengths Lens
    12:02 Flourishing vs. Fixing
    15:24 AI, Leadership & Humanity
    19:23 Psychological Capital at Work
    22:28 Alfredo’s Personal Journey
    31:09 Strengths in Action
    35:05 Psychological Safety in Teams
    41:35 Building Your Ark
    51:20 Health as the Foundation

    👤 About the Guest

    Alfredo Borodowski helps leaders and organizations achieve peak performance during disruption. He is the creator of the framework Positivity + Purpose = Peak Performance, designed to transform stress into resilience and uncertainty into growth.

    With a Ph.D. in Philosophy, an MSW in Clinical Therapy, and certifications in Positive Psychology and Executive Coaching, Alfredo has worked with CEOs, law firms, multinational organizations, and nonprofits for over 30 years.

    His work blends science, strategy, and lived experienc, including his own journey through mental health challenges and loss, to help leaders lead with clarity, empathy, and humanity in the AI era.

    🤝 Connect with Alfredo

    👉 LinkedIn
    👉 Website

    🌍 Stay Connected with James Dean

    👉 Website
    👉 LinkedIn
    👉 Instagram

    🎯 Interested in Coaching?

    If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.


    👉 Book a free Clarity Call here:
    https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

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    55 mins
  • #130 What’s Important To Jill Macauley – Self-Awareness, Leadership & the Ripple Effect of Impact
    Feb 19 2026

    In this thoughtful and deeply human conversation, Jill Macauley explores why self-awareness is one of the most important and most overlooked skills in leadership and life.

    Drawing on her work as COO of Behavioral Essentials and her background in leadership development, Jill explains how awareness begins with understanding who we are across identity, values, emotions, and behaviour.

    Using the metaphor of “blind spots,” she highlights the gap between intent and impact, and why curiosity and empathy are essential for meaningful growth.

    Jill reminds us that awareness isn’t about judgment or perfection, but about reflection, compassion, and choosing to grow.

    💡 Key Takeaways
    • Self-awareness starts with understanding yourself
    • Leadership impact matters more than leadership intent
    • Blind spots exist for everyone, curiosity helps reveal them
    • Awareness creates a ripple effect across teams and relationships
    • Younger generations expect emotionally intelligent leadership
    • Empathy for self is essential before empathy for others
    • Awareness is a lifelong journey, not a destination
    🗣️ In Their Words

    “Awareness is understanding who you are.”
    “Greater understanding dissolves conflict.”
    “The hard work is the joyful work.”

    ⏱️ Chapters

    00:00 Why Awareness Matters
    01:20 Defining Self-Awareness
    03:40 Jill’s Leadership Journey
    08:39 Identity, Values & Behavior
    15:06 Ego, Vulnerability & Impact
    28:26 Awareness in Organizations
    38:23 Generational Shifts at Work
    47:08 Understanding Blind Spots
    59:06 Leadership Responsibility
    01:02:41 The Ripple Effect of Awareness

    👤 About Jill Macauley

    Jill Macauley is the Chief Operating Officer at Behavioral Essentials, a workforce development firm dedicated to improving business results through deeper self-awareness and understanding.

    With a background in business consulting and leadership development, Jill is passionate about reducing unnecessary workplace suffering and helping individuals and organizations thrive.

    Jill’s work focuses on cultivating healthier leadership practices grounded in empathy, awareness, and accountability.

    🤝 Connect with Jill

    👉 LinkedIn
    👉 Website

    Learn more about your own blindspots at www.blindspotting.com and take Behaviour Essentials Blindspotting Assessment™ for free with the following promo code: SPOTJAMESDEAN.

    🌍 Stay Connected with James Dean

    👉 Website
    👉 LinkedIn
    👉 Instagram

    🎯 Interested in Coaching?

    If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.


    👉 Book a free Clarity Call here:
    https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

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    1 hr and 32 mins
  • #129 What’s Important To Scott Kelly – Entrepreneurship, Sales & Building What Lasts
    Feb 12 2026

    In this engaging conversation, Scott Kelly shares lessons from more than 30 years working on both sides of the startup world as an entrepreneur and as an investor.

    As CEO of Black Dog Venture Partners and founder of VC Fast Pitch, Scott has helped raise billions for early-stage companies while supporting founders through the realities of growth, failure, and scale.

    Scott speaks candidly about why most startups fail, the grind of entrepreneurship, and why resilience and execution matter more than ideas alone. He highlights sales as a “lost art” in today’s digital world and explains why strong relationships remain the foundation of sustainable business success.

    The conversation also explores the evolving role of technology and AI in entrepreneurship. Scott shares how AI is transforming industries while emphasizing that human connection, humility, and solving real problems must remain central.

    He reflects on legacy, balance, and redefining success beyond financial metrics, encouraging founders to build businesses and lives that feel meaningful as well as successful.

    💡 Key Takeaways
    • Entrepreneurship is a long game that requires resilience
    • Around 90% of startups fail in their early years
    • Sales and relationship-building are still critical skills
    • Execution matters more than ideas alone
    • AI is a powerful tool, but human connection still wins
    • Investors back people, not just products
    • Strong teams are essential for scaling innovation
    • Success takes many forms, beyond money
    🗣️ In Their Words

    “Running a startup is just a grind.”
    “Sales is a lost art.”
    “Success takes many forms.”

    ⏱️ Chapters

    00:00 Scott’s Journey from Founder to Investor
    01:12 The Reality of Startup Failure
    03:58 Why Sales Still Matters
    09:44 Relationships as a Growth Strategy
    11:38 Venture Capital Realities
    15:05 Investment Returns & Risk
    19:26 AI’s Impact on Entrepreneurship
    24:50 Helping Startups Scale
    30:18 Building, Exiting & Starting Again
    35:10 Technology vs Human Roles
    44:34 Defining Success Beyond Business
    56:19 Legacy & Paying It Forward

    🤝 Connect with Scott

    👉 Website
    👉 LinkedIn

    🌍 Stay Connected with James Dean

    👉 Website
    👉 LinkedIn
    👉 Instagram

    🎯 Interested in Coaching?

    If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.


    👉 Book a free Clarity Call:
    https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

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    58 mins
  • #128 What’s Important To Nancy Griffin – Health, Wealth & Legacy for Accomplished Women
    Feb 5 2026

    In this thoughtful conversation, Jill Macauley explores the transformative power of self-awareness in leadership, work, and life.

    Drawing on her experience in workforce development and leadership consulting, Jill explains how awareness begins with understanding who we are, our identity, values, emotions, and behaviours and how that awareness ripples outward to influence teams and culture.

    Jill introduces the idea of “blind spots” to show how leaders often miss the unintended impact of their actions, even with good intentions. She highlights how increased self-awareness can reduce conflict, strengthen relationships, and create healthier, more human workplaces.

    The conversation also touches on generational shifts in expectations at work, empathy as a leadership skill, and why awareness is a lifelong journey rather than a destination.

    Key Themes & Takeaways
    • Self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership
    • Awareness starts with self and ripples out to others
    • Blind spots shape impact, not intent
    • Greater understanding can dissolve conflict
    • Empathy for self is essential before empathy for others
    • Younger generations expect more emotionally intelligent leadership
    • Awareness is an ongoing, evolving practice

    Memorable Quotes
    • “Live your life and love your life.”
    • “Keep going and figure things out.”
    • “You only live once, so make it count.”

    Episode Chapters

    00:00 Why Awareness Matters
    01:20 Defining Self-Awareness
    03:40 Jill’s Journey into Leadership & Awareness
    08:39 Identity, Values & Behaviour
    15:06 Ego, Vulnerability & Impact
    28:26 Awareness in Organisational Culture
    38:23 Generational Shifts at Work
    47:08 Blind Spots Explained
    50:56 Empathy & Self-Reflection
    59:06 Leadership Responsibility & Culture
    01:09:23 Challenging Assumptions & Growth
    01:16:41 Awareness as a Lifelong Journey

    About Today’s Guest

    Nancy Griffin is a Legacy Advisor to Accomplished Women and the Founder of the trademarked program Women, Worth & Wellness. With over 25 years of experience in wealth management, philanthropy, and community leadership, Nancy champions women’s health, wealth, self-worth, and legacy planning.

    Her mission is to empower women to steward wealth with intention, generosity, and confidence, creating impact that lasts for generations.

    Connect with Nancy Griffin

    👉 LinkedIn
    👉 Website
    👉 Instagram

    Stay Connected with James Dean

    👉 Website
    👉 LinkedIn
    👉 Instagram

    🎯 Interested in Coaching?

    If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.

    👉 Book a free Clarity Call here:
    https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

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    56 mins